Arrow Fat Left Icon Arrow Fat Right Icon Arrow Right Icon Cart Icon Close Circle Icon Expand Arrows Icon Facebook Icon Instagram Icon Pinterest Icon Twitter Icon Youtube Icon Hamburger Icon Information Icon Down Arrow Icon Mail Icon Mini Cart Icon Person Icon Ruler Icon Search Icon Shirt Icon Triangle Icon Bag Icon Play Video

Alice & Chains Jewelry logo

<

The Jogging Jeweler

The Jogging Jeweler #32

The Jogging Jeweler #32

The Jogging Jeweler

|OCA + Curbs + No Crosswalk = HOH |

On a recent run through Dobbs Ferry and Hastings-On-Hudson we ventured down the Old Croton Aqueduct by crossing Route 9 in Dobbs and traversing the trail south into Hastings. It took gingerly balancing my jogging stroller over that first curb to remember "oh yeah, there's the reason why we never run this way".

As previously stated in Blog #11 Hastings-On-Hudson has got some major curb issues - meaning there are crosswalks and crossing, such as those along the Old Croton Aqueduct, that are not easily traversed for handicap, strollers, bicyclists, or folks pulling luggage as they walk up from the train. 

Nearly every intersection throughout Hastings-On-Hudson that the Old Croton Aqueduct passes through has a curb making the trail 100% avoided by someone like myself who runs while pushing a child in my stroller. She's used to the light jostling and me calling out "bumpy bumpy" for when an area is worse for wear, but curbs - those are a bit more noggin' knocking when at a clip faster than a casual walk. 

Who We Gonna Call?

Ghost Busters :-D May be easier to call them, but the Old Croton Aqueduct is a New York State Park which means we need to be squeaky wheels to get the large ol' state of New York's attention. We can write the below people letters or emails, call them, write letters to the Editor for the Rivertowns Enterprise, or other local publications to draw attention to the fact that our historic park could use some TLC.

The Old Croton Aqueduct is in the Taconic Region of NYS Parks. The following are representatives listed under Taconic Region:

  • Lucy R. Waletzky, Chair
  • Jane Alexander
  • Arthur Gellert
  • Randall Fleischer
  • William Mooney
  • Ralph O’Dell
  • Frederick Osborn
  • Edgar Masters

Taconic Regional Office
P.O. Box 308
Staatsburg, NY 12580
Phone: (845) 889-4100
View Regional Map

 What else can you do?

  • On Twitter? Follow Nita Lowey (@NitaLowey) or Eliot Engel (@RepEliotEngel)- send them a link to The Jogging Jeweler Blog, Youtube Video, Photo, or Facebook Post of your choice AND state why it's important to you that they help us address the safety concerns along Route 9 as well as the Old Croton Aqueduct prior to the New Bridge opening.  
  • On Facebook? Follow Westchester County Board of Legislators - This will help you figure out which Legislators covers your area. Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, & Hastings are covered by Mary Jane Shimsky. Shimsky chairs the Committee on Infrastructure, is on the Committee of Transportation & Public Work, as well as NYS/ National Transportation Steering Committee, & is a member of the the NYS Mass Transit Taskforce (behind the New Bridge - and all the Route 9 stuff). 
  • Comment, Share, & Like! The more JJ readers sending in problem photos, sharing stories of their experiences, suggesting solutions, or asking questions about the blog creates a larger dialogue for all of our communities to participate in. 

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #30

The Jogging Jeweler #30

This video is an edited video of about 30 minutes at the intersection of Route 9 and Oak/Clinton Streets in Dobbs Ferry. This video is not taken during heavy traffic, but is to demonstrate the craziness that can ensue at this particular location. 

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #29

The Jogging Jeweler #29

The Jogging Jeweler

|TONIGHT - Route 9 Meeting |

A quick blog post to remind everyone that tonight in the first Route 9 Design plan meeting. Details listed below...

Today: 7PM - 9PM

Want to know more?

What if I can not attend?

  • Email me your comments, suggestions, and concerns! thejoggingjeweler@gmail.com
  • Email the #route9 Project directly: info@route9active.org
  • Attend THIS Sat 6/17, 1PM - 3PM - Warner Library
    121 North Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591
  • Follow their Facebook page
  • Tune into The Jogging Jeweler Facebook Page TONIGHT for LIVE updates!

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #28

The Jogging Jeweler #28

The Jogging Jeweler

|NEW POV for Dobbs Ferry Crosswalks |

This blog's readers amaze me!! Another reader sent in imagery of what crosswalks could look like in Dobbs Ferry. See images below - I'll discuss each as we go. 

The Jogging Jeweler - Route 9, Dobbs Ferry High School, Pedestrian Safety, Safe Routes

Location: Route 9 in front of Dobbs Ferry High School (DFHS)

Problems:

  1. Multi-lane Route 9 offers pedestrians no safe haven when crossing
  2. Multi-lane Route 9 promotes higher speeds by drivers, they think it is a road - when actually it is a street coming through our villages. 
  3. Drop-Off/ Pick-Up at DFHS causes traffic flow problems and pedestrian safety issues.
  4. Crosswalk locations are ill-placed and not enough.

Solutions:

  1. Add turn lanes.
  2. Add pedestrian refuge islands.
  3. Re-direct traffic flow in front of DFHS.
  4. More, better placed crosswalks.

Tackling the OCA

The Jogging Jeweler - Route 9, the Old Croton Aqueduct, Pedestrian Safety

Location: Route 9 in Dobbs Ferry where the OCA crosses

Problems:

  1. Multi-lane Route 9 offers pedestrians no safe haven when crossing
  2. Multi-lane Route 9 promotes higher speeds by drivers, they think it is a road - when actually it is a street coming through our villages. 
  3. Crosswalk location is ill-placed and not enough.
  4. Coming from Hastings, the OCA is not visible, putting pedestrians at risk.

Solutions:

  1. Add pedestrian refuge islands.
  2. Extend curbs to reduce speeds & shorten distance crossed by pedestrians
  3. More, better placed crosswalks.
  4. Add blinking pedestrian crossing signal to indicate pedestrian usage.

 The Jogging Jeweler - The Old Croton Aqueduct, Pedestrian Safety, Dobbs Ferrry

Location: Elm where the OCA crosses

Problems:

  1. OCA can not be seen by drivers.
  2. No crosswalk.
  3. Pedestrians can not see drivers & vice versa.

Solutions:

  1. Extend curbs to narrow road & slow drivers.
  2. Add a crosswalk.
  3. Extended curbs allow pedestrians visibility to oncoming traffic & drivers can see pedestrians.

Main St AreaThe Jogging Jeweler - Elm at Main in Dobbs Ferry

Birds-Eye View of Elm Crosswalks

The Jogging Jeweler - Elm St & Main St in Dobbs Ferry, Pedestrian Safety

Street preview

Location: Elm St & Main St

Problems:

  1. No crosswalk.
  2. Pedestrians can not see drivers & vice versa.

Solutions:

  1. Add a crosswalk.
  2. Extend curbs to shorten crossing distance.
  3. Extended curbs allow pedestrians visibility to oncoming traffic & drivers can see pedestrians.

 An Overview of Needed Crosswalks

To demonstrate the entirety of all the crosswalks needed in the downtown area of Dobbs Ferry the following images demonstrate the locations crosswalks should be placed for optimal safety and higher levels of visibility of pedestrians. 

Cedar Street 

The Jogging Jeweler - Cedar St Crosswalk locations in Dobbs Ferry, Pedestrian Safety

North End of Main Street + OCA crossings

The Jogging Jeweler - Main St in Dobbs Ferry, Pedestrian Safety

South End of Main Street + OCA Crossings

The Jogging Jeweler - South End of Main Street in Dobbs Ferry, Pedestrian Safety

All together now...

The Jogging Jeweler - All Suggested Crosswalks in Dobbs Ferry, Pedestrian Safety

What can we do?

  • See something you like?? ....talk about it! Share it on Facebook! Write the BOT, Mayor, Rivertowns Enterprise!
  • Visualize....Convenient + Safe = More people walking = Village & local businesses thriving! So, before "Those pesky crosswalks take up parking"  which I've heard a few (dozen) times...Realize some of our parking spaces are over-sized and can be slightly reduced to invest in the safety of our residents (think cute, small children) crossing the streets. 
  • About Route 9... COME to the meetings on June 15th & June 17th
  • Wave... If a driver has stopped a short little hand raise to acknowledge & give thanks.

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #27

The Jogging Jeweler #27

The Jogging Jeweler

| Rt 9 Public Meeting Details |

Sidenote: HAPPY GLOBAL RUNNING DAY! :-)

I'll be out this afternoon celebrating Running Day.

PS - I love the honks, waves, and cheers, it makes pushing my faithful sidekick (who weighs 45lbs these days) much easier! Just stay safe!!

The more important news...

Nelson Nygaard, transportation engineers, will attend the Route 9 meetings on June 15th & 17th. They will present a brief introduction to the project and then provide an open and informal setting for the sharing of ideas. They plan to staff four stations for attendees to provide input, ideas, comments, and suggestions. There will also be choices that people can make to articulate their preferences. These stations will have an illustration board to post notes and stickers. 

What can we do?

  • Come prepared - Bring notes on problems & solutions.
  • Participate - This is your opportunity to provide input on a state road! Carpe diem!
  • Be Open - Expect different experiences, perspectives, and knowledge - there could be many solutions or combinations that solve a problem.
  • Ask Questions - Bring your thinking caps, engage with people from other villages, and ask them questions. 

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #26

The Jogging Jeweler #26

Frequent Comments to The Jogging Jeweler

  • Did you hear another pedestrian got hit?
  • I made comments to the village about Broadway but the replied it's a state road.
  • OMG - Broadway is AWFUL!
  • I don't let my kids walk around Dobbs, unless they can get there on the OCA. 

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #25

The Jogging Jeweler #25

The Jogging Jeweler has complied a list (by village/town) for residents to consider in their own research, problem solving, and to raise awareness among more members of our community. Within each list I will provide the blog numbers that photographic or video footage can be found demonstrating the problems.

Continue reading

The Jogging Jewelry #24

The Jogging Jewelry #24

Save the Date:

   Thursday, June 15
   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
   Hastings Community Center
   44 Main Street, Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706

   Saturday, June 17
   1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
   Warner Library
   121 North Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #23

The Jogging Jeweler #23

The Jogging Jeweler

| Ardsley 1st Edition - No Sidewalk Saw Mill River Rd |

 

Notice anything....There is no sidewalk.

Yes, you still see snow on the side of the road because I've got a backlog of videos I need to write about.

A reader asked that I run down Ogden - I did. Then across the Saw Mill and into Ardsley via the South County Trailway. The only way to get back into Dobbs Ferry from Ardsley is to run over the bridge, which can not be accessed from the Trailway and requires running on Saw Mill River Road. 

There are no sidewalks on either side of this road that is under some pretty heavy construction. Screenshot below is an image of the South County Trailway in Ardsley. 

The Jogging Jeweler - South County Trailway in Ardsley

With the development of the Danforth Apartments along the Saw Milll River Parkway, pedestrians have limited access to Ardsley, their options being

1. Exiting the South County trailway by House of Sports or,
2.  Continue onwards exiting the trail in the park, past Heatherdell Road, Starbucks, Rev, and multiple other businesses.
To exit the South County Trail located near House of Sports requires some agility as you have to get over the guardrail. This is not handicap or stroller accessible. 

Whether there is a sidewalk allowing for pedestrians from the North end of Ardsley into the village is not a course I have ran, yet. Based on Google Map images there do not appear to be sidewalks leading from the trail towards Starbucks.

What does this mean?

Well - either the Danforth apartments are attracting some adventurous pedestrians 

- or  -

there will be more vehicles on the roads of Ardsley - Just. Like. Every. Other. Rivertown. 

Our villages and residents need to accept and acknowledge that our roads were built at a time when most households were lucky to have 1 car. Now, many households have 2 or more, depending on how many teenagers they have. If you take the number of existing households, multiple that by 2 - that's double what our roads were built for - whenever they were actually built.

Now add in the new developments every Rivertown has and while were at it, add in the dramatic increase in popularity of cycling - our roads are being shared by a larger population than ever before. 

 

What can we do?

Maintain the sidewalks you have, so they feel and look accessible to all pedestrians...

  • Trim trees, so people don't need to duck
  • Keep shrubs & bushes pruned, sidewalk space is limited enough
  • Shovel the snow, sweep the leaves
  • Fix the broken - elderly stumble & trip, runners leap, & strollers knock those babes around
  • Don't have a sidewalk? Help the neighbor that does, ever heard "it takes a village" 

Speak up - Complaining about developments and traffic is not motivation for getting solutions. Write letters to motivate actions that allow for town dwelling pedestrians to feel that choosing to walk within our villages is convenient, safe, healthy, and beautiful. 

 

Continue reading

The Jogging Jeweler #22

The Jogging Jeweler #22

This video demonstrates a first for The Jogging Jeweler - prior to this video I had never crossed the Saw Mill River Parkway at Lawrence Street. Crossing at this location posed no immediate problems however in my time standing there I did observe a few things.

Continue reading